A view of Wadi Fukin is seen from the Jewish settlement of Beitar Illit (front), near the West Bank town of Bethlehem (Reuters / Baz Ratner) / Reuters

Israel’s new deputy foreign minister has lashed out at the international community’s attempts to create a two-state solution with Palestine. Tzipi Hotovely told Israeli diplomatic representatives aboard that the Holy Land belongs to the Jews.

The 36-year-old, who previously served as the deputy transport
minister in the last government under Benjamin Netanyahu, cited a
number of religious texts to back up her claim that the Land of
Israel is the rightful home of the Jews.

"We need to return to the basic truth of our rights to this
country," she said in her speech, which was cited by AP.
"This land is ours. All of it is ours. We did not come here
to apologize for that."

Hotovely’s comments come in the wake of reports by the French
newspaper Le Figaro, which say France is proposing a UN Security
Council draft resolution, to reduce a deadline from two years to
18 months for negotiations to cease concerning the creation of a
Palestinian state.

The Vatican state, which is not a member of the UN, became the
latest country to recognize the state of Palestine on May 13.
Israel was scathing of the move, saying it damages the prospects
for peace in the region. Overall 135 members of the UN, recognize
Palestine as a state.

The Orthodox Jewish MP, who is a hardline supporter of Israel’s
right to build settlements in the West Bank, which has been
condemned by much of the international community. During her
speech, she also mentioned that she would try to get
international recognition for the West Bank settlements.

"We expect as a matter of principle of the international
community to recognize Israel's right to build homes for Jews in
their homeland, everywhere," she said.

Hotovely also managed to reword a slogan from the Transportation
Ministry, where she used to work: “On the road, don’t be
right, be smart.” She added that for too many years,
diplomats in Israel have tried to be smart, rather than be right.

“Many times it seems that in our international relations,
more than emphasizing the rightness of our cause, we are asked to
use arguments that play well diplomatically,” she told
ministry employees, as cited by the Jerusalem Post. “But at a
time when the very existence of Israel is being called into
question, it is important to be right.

“The international community deals with considerations of
justice and morality,” she added. “We need to return to
the basic truth of our right to this land.”

Problem isn't that Hotovely believes in a biblical right to
Israel. It's that she thinks the Torah makes for decent
diplomacy.

With Netanyahu also Israel’s current foreign minister and in
charge of foreign policy, Hotovely will manage the ministry’s
day-to-day functions.

During campaigning for the recent Israeli elections, Netanyahu
angered his Western allies by saying that the creation of a
Palestinian state would not be permissible during his time as
prime minister.

“I think that whoever today moves to establish a Palestinian
state and withdraw from territory is giving attack territory for
Islamic extremists against the state of Israel,” the Israeli
PM told NRG in March.

Netanyahu’s comments led to a number of prominent former EU
officials, which included the ex-foreign and prime ministers of
France, Spain and Sweden to write a four page letter to EU policy
chief Federica Mogherini, outlining how they have little faith in
the peace process between Israel and Palestine and that more
pressure should be put on Israel.

“Mr. Netanyahu expressed various views on Palestine in and
around the recent election campaign, most of them cold to the
concept of an independent Palestinian state. We are convinced in
our own minds that he has little intention of negotiating
seriously for a two-state solution within the term of this
incoming Israeli government,” the letter stated.

Over 500,000 Israelis currently live in settlements in the West
Bank and around East Jerusalem which were built after the 1967
Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The occupied
territories of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been seeking
full statehood and independence from Israel for five decades.